[THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN RETRACTED] AIM: To investigate the association of lysyl oxidase-like 1 (LOXL1) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with exfoliation syndrome (XFS)/exfoliation glaucoma (XFG). METHODS: Published manuscripts from PubMed and EMBASE were identified until May 2014. Summary odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for LOXL1 (rs1048661, rs2165241 and rs3825942) polymorphisms and the risk of XFS/XFG were estimated using random- or fixed- effect model. RESULTS: The three LOXL1 polymorphisms (rs1048661, rs3825942, and rs2165241) were associated with an increased risk for XFS/XFG among Caucasians, with OR 2.19(1.96-2.45), 8.8 (6.05-12.79) and 3.41 (3.11-3.73), respectively. On the contrast, the rs1048661 and rs2165241, but not rs3825942 polymorphism, have a potential protective effect on XFS/XFG in Asians, with OR 0.06 (0.02-0.18), 0.15 (0.09-0.25), respectively. CONCLUSION: There is strong evidence that LOXL1 polymorphisms are associated with XFS/XFG risk. The strength of risk might be ethnicity-dependent.